Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Holyoke Center in Cambridge's Harvard Square Becomes Smith Center; Status of Restaurants Unknown

A building in Cambridge's Harvard Square has a new name, and renovations are on the way--and what this means for the restaurants within the space is anyone's guess at this point in time.

The Harvard Crimson is reporting that the Holyoke Center has officially changed its name to the Smith Center, with Harvard University (the owner of the building) saying that the first three floors will undergo construction starting in 2016. The fate of the two eateries on the first floor of the center--Al's Harvard Square Cafe and Oggi Gourmet--is unknown right now, as they have not been included in the planning process up to this point.

The Smith Center is bordered by Mass. Ave., Mt. Auburn Street, Dunster Street, and Holyoke Street on the eastern edge of the square.